Dutch priorities

Since the founding of the United Nations in 1945 the Netherlands has consistently been committed to and very active in promoting the goals of the UN.

Dutch priorities

Since the founding of the United Nations in 1945 the Netherlands has
consistently been committed to and very active in promoting the goals of the UN.

Since the founding of the United Nations in 1945 the Netherlands has
consistently been committed to and very active in promoting the goals of the UN.
The Netherlands plays an active role within the organization, be it in the field
of peace and security, economic and social development, justice, human rights
and fundamental freedoms, or in supporting the UN to make it an effective
organisation responsive to today's challenges. The Netherlands also strives for
an effective, efficient and coherent European Union with coordinated policies
within the UN system.

Financial contributions

The Netherlands is one of the main financial contributors to the activities
of the United Nations. For example in 2008, the Netherlands, a country of 16
million inhabitants, contributed almost 460 million dollars to the three main UN
funds and programmes: the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund
(UNFPA). These donations are just below the contributions of countries like the
United States and Japan. The total Netherlands contribution to the UN is over 1
billion euro. When it comes to the regular UN budget, our country is ranked as
the 12th largest contributor (1.855% of the total budget as of 2010).

Main priorities

The above figures do not only reflect our commitment to development
cooperation - the Netherlands is one of the few countries in the world that over
the years has honoured the UN target of spending 0.7 percent of GDP on
development - but also our confidence in the United Nations as an invaluable
multilateral channel. The Dutch commitment to development cooperation and the
achievement of the Millennium Development Goals also results in our dedication
to enhance the quality and effectiveness of UN activities in that field, by
stressing the importance of system wide coherence.

One of the main priorities of the Netherlands is the ambition to contribute
to peace and security. The several instances of Dutch membership of the Security
Council made us a direct partner in the debates to solve or diffuse several
crises in the world and are proof of our belief in the crucial role of the
United Nations in this area.

Dutch policy focuses on establishing stability in several priority regions:
Afghanistan, the Middle East, the Horn of Africa, the Great Lakes and the
Balkan. The Netherlands has participated in a number of UN peacekeeping
operations and UN mandated missions since 1947.
(Click
here to see the slideshow "From Korea to Kabul"). Currently it is still part
of UN, NATO and EU missions.
(Click
here to see in which missions the Netherlands is actively involved). The
'Dutch approach', with a focus on integration of military, development and
governance supporting activities, has garnered international attention as an
effective way of peace building. The Netherlands firmly believes peace and
development are intertwined and underscores the importance of the central role
of the UN in managing post-conflict and fragile states. In addition, the further
development and implementation of the concept of Responsibility to Protect (R2P)
is one of the main Dutch concerns.

Our active membership of the Peace Building Commission (PBC) shows our
conviction that the development of post-conflict societies is a crucial factor
in the prevention of a relapse into conflict. The Netherlands has chaired the
Sierra Leone configuration of the PBC until early 2009 and believes the work of
the commission provides a unique opportunity to make a difference on the ground.

Apart from contributing to international stability, the Netherlands attaches
great importance to social and economic development, including the defense and
promotion of human rights. It plays an active role within the Human Rights
Council in Geneva and the Third Committee of the General Assembly in New York,
and makes an effort to integrate human rights into all UN activities.

The current Dutch development priorities are: Food Security, Water and Sexual
and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). Throughout these priorities special
attention is given to gender equality, good governance and the development of
our private sector. The Funds & Programmes (UNDP, UNFPA, UN-Women, UNICEF,
etc.) play a vital role in the development policies of the Netherlands. This is
also reflected in the substantial Dutch financial contributions.

Finally, the Dutch commitment to attaining social and economic development
also results in our dedication to enhance the quality and effectiveness of UN
activities in that field, by stressing the importance of system wide coherence.

There is more to our close relationship with the United Nations: The Hague -
seat of the Dutch government - is hosting the International Court of Justice,
the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the International
Criminal Court and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. The trial of former
Liberian President Charles Taylor for the Special Court for Sierra Leone is also
being conducted in The Hague. All of this has, informally, given this Dutch city
the title of the United Nations "legal capital of the world". It certainly
reflects the Netherlands longstanding involvement in the promotion of
international law. The Hague is also seat of the Organisation for the
Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), a body created by and related to the
United Nations.